Scarsdale rose.
"She is not for me—yet——" he said steadily. "Thank you again, Homewood, may I tell your wife that you have asked me to remain?"
"She will be as pleased as I am!" Allan said simply.
Scarsdale turned to the house, he left Allan sitting there and Allan rested his chin on his hands. He was not deeply religious. He had prayed, as men do, by fits and starts, in moments of anxiety, in moments of relief and gratitude. But his heart was offering up thanksgiving now. He had been delivered from temptation. He thanked God for it, for his own sake and for hers, that child's, for his father's sake, for Kathleen's.
But temptation might assail him again, would—and he, knowing his own weakness now, knowing how nearly he had succumbed to it, must do that thing that even brave men may do and yet still keep their honour. He must avoid it, he must shun it, even flee from it if necessary—but how?
Betty or he must go and how could he when this was his home, when all his interests were here? How could he go, how could be explained his reason for flight? No, it must be she who must go!
"I must think, I must plan, I must consider her, yes, consider her in every way, but she must go."
CHAPTER XXIX
WHY ABRAM LESTWICK STAYED FROM CHURCH
Mrs. Colley wagged her ancient head, she looked at her granddaughter and smiled, shewing toothless gums.